Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

Wherever you play the saxophone, be it a small ensemble, a full band, or even a solo performance, tuning is extremely important. A good tuning produces a cleaner, more beautiful sound, which is why it is important for every saxophonist to know how his instrument is tuned. The tuning procedure can be quite complicated at first, but with practice it will get better and better.

Steps

1. 1 Tune your tuner to 440 Hertz (Hz) or "A = 440". This is how most bands are tuned, although some use 442 Hz to brighten the sound.
2. 2 Determine which note or series of notes you are going to tune.
   • Many saxophonists tune to Eb, which for saxophone Eb (alto, baritone) is C, and for Bb saxophone (soprano and tenor) is F. This is generally considered good tone.
   • If you play with a live band, you usually tune into a live Bb, which is G (Eb saxophones) or C (Bb saxophones).
   • If you are playing with an orchestra (although this combination is quite rare), you will tune into a concert A, which corresponds to F # (for Eb saxophones) or B (for Bb saxophones).
   • You can also tune in concert keys F, G, A, and Bb. For Eb saxophones it's D, E, F #, G, and for Bb saxophones it's G, A, B, C.
   • You can also pay special attention to tuning especially problematic notes for you.
3. 3 Play the first note in the series. You can watch the “needle” on the tuner move, indicating if there is a flat or sharp bias, or you can switch the tuner to tuning fork mode so that it plays the perfect tone.
   • If you hit the set tone clearly, or the needle is clearly in the middle, you can assume that you have tuned the instrument and can now start playing.
   • If the needle is tilted toward the "sharp" or if you hear yourself playing a little higher, pull the mouthpiece slightly. Do this until you are clearly in tone. A good way to remember this principle is to learn the phrase "When something is too much, you have to get out."
   • If the needle moves towards flat or you hear that you are playing below the set pitch, lightly press down on the mouthpiece and continue adjusting. Remember that "Flat things are pinned down."
   • If you still have not been successful in moving the mouthpiece (maybe it already falls out from the end, or maybe you pressed it down so that you are afraid to never reach it again), you can make adjustments in the place where the neck of the instrument meets the main part, pulling it out or, on the contrary, pushing it , depending on the case.
   • You can also slightly adjust the pitch with your ear pad. Listen to the tuner's tone for at least 3 seconds (this is how long your brain needs to hear and understand the pitch), then blow into the saxophone. Try changing your lip set, chin, and posture when you make a sound. Tighten the ear cushions to raise the tone, or loosen to lower the tone.
4. 4 Do until your instrument is fully tuned, then you can start playing.

Tips

• Reeds can also be an important factor. If you have regular setup problems, experiment with different brands, weights, and how you trim your reeds.
• If you're having really tough trouble getting your saxophone set up, you can take it to a music store. Perhaps the technicians will fix it and it will begin to tune normally, or maybe you want to exchange it for another. Entry-level saxophones, or older saxophones, are often poorly tuned and you may just need an upgrade.
• Remember that temperature can affect the setting.
• It is better to gradually get used to tuning to a given tone than using a needle, this will train your ear for music and allow you to tune the instrument "by ear" in the future.

Warnings

• Never try to use any of the advanced tuning techniques unless you know what you are doing. The saxophone keys are very fragile and very easy to damage.
• Be aware that most tuners provide live tuning in the key of C. The saxophone is a transposition instrument, so don't be alarmed if you see what you are playing does not match what is on the tuner's screen. If the question of transposition scares you, this article is suitable for both sopranos with tenors and altos with bass.
• Not all saxophones are well tuned, so some of your notes may differ from those of other saxophonists. This issue cannot be resolved by moving the mouthpiece: you will need to visit a professional.